William Smith basketball dropped its Liberty League opener on the road Friday, falling 62-49 to Bard. The Herons slipped to 0-1 in conference play and 0-5 overall, while the Raptors earned their first-ever win against the program.
Giana Lobozzo paced William Smith with 12 points, seven rebounds and a block. Her sister, Ava Lobozzo, added nine points and pulled down a game-high 10 boards, including four on the offensive glass. McKenzie Mandyck contributed seven points as the Herons finished with a 45-38 advantage on the boards but were undone by 21 turnovers.
Bard relied on a strong outside shooting performance and a steady day at the free-throw line to take control. The Raptors hit early threes to move in front after a brief William Smith lead, carrying a 13-8 edge after the first quarter. The Herons used a 9-0 run in the second to draw even at 24, but Bard regained the lead before halftime.
William Smith surged again to start the third quarter, opening on a 10-1 run to move ahead, but Bard countered by limiting the Herons to four points over the final six minutes. A late bucket put the Raptors up three entering the fourth.
Bard closed the game with its strongest stretch, scoring 21 points in the final period and going 10-for-12 at the line while holding William Smith in check.
The Herons continue their road swing Saturday at Vassar, with tipoff set for 2 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].